Christmas present from my chickens! First egg!!

[StacyAK]

Got a blue egg from one of the Easter Eggers this morning and there was a streak of blood on it. Should I be concerned or does this sometimes happen with their first eggs?

 

[schnebbles]

I'm thinking my first one might have had just a tiny bit of blood, not much. I don't think I'd worry unless it keeps happening. I wonder if it hurts them a lot to lay an egg?

 

[StacyAK]

Got some more eggs today and I compared the bloody one to them and it's a bit bigger. Her first egg so that's probably why there was some blood.

They are so pretty I don't want to eat them!! Just keep them as decoration!!

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Blood is normal as long as it's not covered in blood and only happens occasionally.

And I did the same thing! We kept our first eggs in a bowl (for decoration) because they were so pretty and cute!

 

[schnebbles]

I like looking at my little bantam eggs, they are just cute they are a nice kind of creamy color. I would love colors but I don't want big chickens.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

I've heard that EEs come in bantam size.

 

[Cheryl1948]

Stacey, one of my EE's first couple of eggs had just a teeny bit of blood streak on them, but not enough for me to be concerned. I am watching, though. Got 5 eggs yesterday. I was trying to save up a dozen in a carton to take a picture, but ate one this morning, lol. Couldn't resist....they are so delicious, like you said. Just want to say, I live in NC, not Alaska, but it feels like Alaska out there this morning. It is below 20 and I don't like it! I know it gets colder than that for a lot of you, and I admire that you go out to the coop in it.

Stacey, is your coop insulated or does it have heat in it? I have read that the chickens can take the cold temps, but I have a heat lamp hanging in the center of the coop for these colder times. It comes on in the afternoon, (they don't like going into a dark coop) and goes off at 8pm. Then it comes on again at 4:30 for a while. I also have an automatic chicken door that opens at 7am and closes at 6pm. The coop is 8ft X 16ft, so they have plenty of room, so it doesn't get overly warm in there. Just enough to keep it comfortable.
Schnebbles, I read that a chicken laying an egg can be compared to a woman having a baby. Didn't read about any pain, but it takes a lot of energy. That is why mine get a good grain, of course, and vegies, fruit and yogurt, mealworms, turkey, crickets, corn grits, hard-boiled egg, oyster shell, etc. My girls are really spoiled, but no soft shells.

 

[StacyAK]

Stacey, one of my EE's first couple of eggs had just a teeny bit of blood streak on them, but not enough for me to be concerned. I am watching, though.  Got 5 eggs yesterday.  I was trying to save up a dozen in a carton to take a picture, but ate one this morning, lol.  Couldn't resist....they are so delicious, like you said.  Just want to say, I live in NC, not Alaska, but it feels like Alaska out there this morning.  It is below 20 and I don't like it!  I know it gets colder than that for a lot of you, and I admire that you go out to the coop in it.  Stacey, is your coop insulated or does it have heat in it?  I have read that the chickens can take the cold temps, but I have a heat lamp hanging in the center of the coop for these colder times. It comes on in the afternoon, (they don't like going into a dark coop) and goes off at 8pm. Then it comes on again at 4:30 for a while.  I also have an automatic chicken door that opens at 7am and closes at 6pm.  The coop is 8ft X 16ft, so they have plenty of room, so it doesn't get overly warm in there. Just enough to keep it comfortable.
Schnebbles, I read that a chicken laying an egg can be compared to a woman having a baby.  Didn't read about any pain, but it takes a lot of energy.  That is why mine get a good grain, of course, and vegies, fruit and yogurt, mealworms, turkey, crickets, corn grits, hard-boiled egg, oyster shell, etc.  My girls are really spoiled, but no soft shells.

20! Shoot! We are warmer than you right now. 30 here today. It's been a weird winter, it's either -20 or +30. Never stays in the middle. We live right next door to my grandpa and I am using his old coop that's built onto the back of his detached garage. His garage sits practically in my backyard. The coop is insulated and there is a blower fan (like the one in a bathroom ceiling) that when turned on blows warm air from the garage into the coop. I also turn on a heat lamp bulb if it gets below 0. It's usually around 20-30F in the coop.

Coop is 8x8 with a feed room off to the side. Run is about 20x10

 

[schnebbles]

Nice coop! Mine is so small I feel bad when they stay in during the cold/snow. They will not come out if they see snow, even if it's warm enough. I run my heat light a lot during the cold because since my chickens have mareks, I think it's a little less stress on them. my coop is only 4x5 I think. I hope they sleep at night with the light.

I'll have to look up bantam EE's.

 

[StacyAK]

Yeah mine won't go out in the snow unless I shovel the run and spread dry leaves I saved from the fall everywhere. Spoiled chickens!!